Vehicle control device, medium for storing computer program for vehicle control, and method for controlling vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle control device has a processor configured to determine whether or not there exists a branching location where the vehicle is to exit from the traveling in a predetermined driving zone of a navigation route and, when a branching location exists, to determine whether or not a control transfer request zone exists in which the driver is to be given a request to transfer driving of the vehicle from automatic control to manual control, within a first distance on the branching road from the branching location, or a second distance on the traveling road from the branching location in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and when the control transfer request zone exists, to notify the driver via a notification unit, before the vehicle reaches the branching location, that the vehicle is to be moved from the traveling road to the branching road by manual control.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle control device comprising:
 a processor that executes stored computer readable instructions to
 control the vehicle by automatic control; 
 determine whether or not there exists a branching location where the vehicle is to exit from a traveling road on which the vehicle is traveling onto a branching road in a predetermined driving zone of a navigation route, based on a current location of the vehicle, a navigation route and map information, 
 determine whether or not a control transfer request zone exists in which a driver is to be given a request to transfer driving of the vehicle from automatic control to manual control, within a first distance, the first distance measured from the branching location to the control transfer request zone on the branching road, or within a second distance, the second distance measured from the branching location to the control transfer request zone on the traveling road in a traveling direction of the vehicle, when the branching location exists; 
 control the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from using automatic control to exit from the traveling road to the branching road at the branching location when the control transfer request zone exists; and 
 notify the driver via a notification device that the vehicle is to be moved from the traveling road to the branching road by manual control before the vehicle reaches the branching location, when the control transfer request zone exists. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to set an area from a location at a third distance before the branching location to the branching location to be a manual control request zone in which the driver is to be requested to move from the traveling road to the branching road by manual control, when the control transfer request zone exists on the branching road. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to set an area from a location at a fourth distance before the branching location to the branching location to be the control transfer request zone, when the control transfer request zone exists on the branching road. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to set an area from a location at a fifth distance before the branching location to the branching location to be a manual control request zone in which the driver is to be requested to move from the traveling road to the branching road by manual control, when the control transfer request zone exists on the traveling road. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to set an area from a location at a sixth distance before the branching location to the branching location to be the control transfer request zone, when the control transfer request zone exists on the traveling road. 
     
     
       6. A computer-readable, non-transitory medium storing a computer program for vehicle control, wherein the computer program causes a processor to execute a process, the process comprising:
 controlling the vehicle by automatic control; 
 determining whether or not there exists a branching location where the vehicle is to exit from a traveling road on which the vehicle is traveling onto a branching road in a predetermined driving zone of a navigation route, based on a current location of the vehicle, a navigation route and map information; 
 determine whether or not a control transfer request zone exists in which a driver is to be given a request to transfer driving of the vehicle from automatic control to manual control, within a first distance, the first distance measured from the branching location to the control transfer request zone on the branching road, or within a second distance, the second distance measured from the branching location to the control transfer request zone on the traveling road in a traveling direction of the vehicle, when the branching location exists; 
 controlling the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from using automatic control to exit from the traveling road to the branching road at the branching location when the control transfer request zone exists; and 
 notifying the driver via a notification device that the vehicle is to be moved from the traveling road to the branching road by manual control before the vehicle reaches the branching location, when the control transfer request zone exists. 
 
     
     
       7. A method for controlling a vehicle carried out by a vehicle control device, comprising:
 controlling the vehicle by automatic control; 
 determining whether or not there exists a branching location where the vehicle is to exit from a traveling road on which the vehicle is traveling onto a branching road in a predetermined driving zone of a navigation route, based on a current location of the vehicle, a navigation route and map information; 
 determine whether or not a control transfer request zone exists in which a driver is to be given a request to transfer driving of the vehicle from automatic control to manual control, within a first distance, the first distance measured from the branching location to the control transfer request zone on the branching road, or within a second distance, the second distance measured from the branching location to the control transfer request zone on the traveling road in a traveling direction of the vehicle, when the branching location exists; 
 controlling the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from using automatic control to exit from the traveling road to the branching road at the branching location when the control transfer request zone exists; and 
 notifying the driver via a notification device that the vehicle is to be moved from the traveling road to the branching road by manual control before the vehicle reaches the branching location, when the control transfer request zone exists.